Jar cap tool



Nov. 14, 1939. w w HARDING 2,180,235

' JAR CAP TOOL Filed Sept. 2, 1937 Y Wlier W Harding Patented Nov. 14,1939 UNITED STATES mew orrl ce 2,180,235 I JAR CAP TOOL Walter W.Harding, Martinsville, Ind. Application September 2, 1937,. Serial No.162,216 9 Glaims.- (01. 81 15.1)

. This invention relates to a tool for andstraightening jar caps.

Jar caps of the type used to seal preserving expanding jars and the likecan ordinarily be used only once due to the fact that they frequentlybecome discaved in cannot clamp a sealing ring regardless of howstraight the cap flange is, because the caved in portion will bind onthe neck of the jar to prevent the cap being fully screwed on.

The object of this invention is to provide a tool whereby jar caps canbe expanded and straightened after each use thereby allowing the caps tobe used an unlimited number of times without danger of them failing toproperly seal the contents.

' Another object of the invention resides in providing a tool that willnot damage the porcelain disk in the top of the cap when expanding it.

A further advantage of the invention is to provide a tool that willstraighten the flange or expand the cap or both depending upon thecondition of each individual cap.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereafter become morefully apparent from the following specification of which the drawingforms a part, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the same;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 33 of Figure l; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view on the line 4-4 ofFigure 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing wherein like referencecharacters designate like or corresponding parts throughout thedifferent views, HI designates generally the tool which includes a ringll provided'with a number of slots l2 which extend a part of the wayaround the ring H and are arranged at inclines. The ring ll above theelevated end of each of the slots I2 is offset at l3 for a purpose whichwill hereafter be described.

Secured to the ring H is a handle M which may be of any desired shape orconstruction.

A disc or plate I5 is devised to fit into ring I I, and provided withears l6 extending outwardly from its. periphery and adapted to bealigned with the offset portion I3, is intended to be inserted into ringII with ears Hi resting on the bottom wall of slot 12. To the under sideof plate I5 is secured a disc ll of smaller diameter than disc I5, whichis held in position by the nuts and bolts l8. Disc I1 is provided withan annular depending flange 19 as best seen in Figure 4. A handle 20having an ofiset portion 2| which engages the top of plate l5 and issecuredthereto by the bolts I8, is adapted to be swung relatively tohandle Hi to cause ears It to ride in slotfl2 in a clockwise directionto force plate ladownward- 1y with respect to ring II. The sameresultcan of course be obtained by operating handle M to move ring I Iin a counter clockwise direction relatively to plate I5 while it isbeing held stationary.

Extending inwardly from ring H is a flange 22, which is annular, and onwhich the flange of ametal jar cap 23 is adapted to rest to support thecap 23 in an inverted position in ring H. The underside of plate l5adjacent its periphery is beveled at 24 to engage the flange 25 of cap23 as best seen in Figure 3.

As seen in Figure 4, cars it are directly beneath the offset portion l3so that the beveled portion 24 is spaced from flangeZZ; As plate 15 isturned relatively to ring vl l cars it engaging slots '12 will guideplate l5 downwardly to clamp flange 25 between flange 22 and portion 24.If

the flange Z5'is at all distorted it will'be straightened by thisoperation. The depending flange is willextend down into cap 23, and ifthe cap 23 is distorted as in Figure 3 the flange will be in engagementwith the cap at the point 25.

As plate l5 moves downwardly therefore and the flange 25 is clampedbetween portions 22 and 24, the flange H3 at the point 26 will force thecap outwardly into expanded position, until the plate l5 reaches a fullylowered position. At such time the edge of flange l9 will be engagingcap 23 throughout the length of its periphery so that the dimensions ofthe cap will have been restored to its original condition.

Jar caps of the type shown at 23 are ordinarily provided with aporcelain insert 21, and for this reason flange 19 must be formed of adiameter sufiicient to engage the cap at its extremities so that nopressure will be brought to bear against the porcelain discZl whichwould break it.

To remove the cap 23 after it has been restored to its original shape,plate 15 is turned counter clockwise until ears l6 reach the end of slotl2 directly beneath the offset portions l3, at which said plate andextending into said cap to entime plate I 5 can be lifted out of ring H,and onset portions l3 will form a clearance to permit passage of theears l6. The ring II can then be inverted so that cap 23 will drop out.Another cap 23 to be expanded and straightened can then be inserted inring ll after which plate Hi can be applied and the operation repeated.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the flange l9 simulates the neckof a jar, and tends to expand the cap so that it will contact the edgeof flange l9 at all points when plate l5 has been forced downwardly intoa fully lowered position. It is therefore obvious that after a cap 23has been subjected to the operation of tool ID, that it will be incondition to engage firmly against the top of a jar neck. When in thiscondition a cap 23 is in condition to again be applied to a jar so thatthe flange 25 can securely clamp a rubber sealing ring so as to preventair from entering the jar and spoiling the contents.

It is to be understood that the preferred embodiment of the inventiononly has been herein shown and described, the right being expresslyreserved to make such changes and modifications as will not depart fromthe spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A. metal cap expander comprising a ring provided with inclined slots,a handle secured to said ring, a plate adapted to be inserted in saidring, said plate being provided with ears to engage said slots, a handlesecured to said plate, means to support a metal cap in inverted positionin said ring, and means depending from gage the inside thereof, saidring and plate adapted to be turned relatively to each other to causesaid plate to move downwardly to press said cap into its originalexpanded shape.

2. A device of the class described comprising a ring provided withinclined slots, a plate adapted to be inserted in said ring, said platebeing provided with ears to engage said slots, said ring being providedwith an annular inwardly extending flange to engage the flange of aninverted jar cap, said plate being beveled to engage said cap flange,and operating means to turn said plate relatively to the ring to causesaid ears and slots to cooperate to move said plate downwardly intoclamping engagement with the cap flange to straighten it.

3. A jar cap straightener and expander comprising a ring provided withinclined slots, 2, plate sized to be inserted in said ring, said platebeing provided with ears to engage said slots, a

flange extending inwardly from said ring and adapted to support aninverted jar cap, said plate being provided with a depending flangemember to extend into the cap, said ears and slots cooperating to forcesaid plate downwardly when turned relatively to said ring to cause saiddepending flange to press the cap outwardly into its original expandedshape.

4. A jar cap tool comprising a ring having inclined slots, a plateadapted to be inserted in said ring and provided with ears to engagesaid slots, a flange secured to said ring to support a cap in invertedposition, an annular flange depending from said plate and adapted toextend into'said cap, and operating means to turn said ring and platerelatively to each other to cause said ears to move in said slots toforce said plate downwardly, and its depending flange into engagementwith said cap to press it out into its original expanded condition.

5. A device as in claim 4 and the under part of said plate cooperatingwith the flange on said ring to bend the jar cap flange outwardly into auniform shape.

6. A tool for expanding and straightening jar caps comprising a ringprovided with a plurality of inclined slots, a plate sized to fit intosaid ring and provided with ears to engage said slots, said ring beingprovided with offset portions adjacent the top of each slot to admitsaid ears, means to clamp a jar top between said ring and plate, anannular flange depending from said plate and extending into said cap,and operating means to turn said plate and ring to cause said ears tomove in said slots to force said plate downwardly whereby tosimultaneously clamp and straighten the cap flange and expand the capdue to the downward pressure of the annular depending flange.

'7. In a cap expander, a pair of connected members, one of said membersbeing adapted to receive a jar cap, means for turning said membersrelatively to each other, means connecting said members whereby theywill be moved longitudinally of each other by said turning movement, anda portion projecting from the other of said members to engage the cap tobend it back into its normal shape.

8. A jar cap tool comprising a ring provided with a handle, a membermounted in said ring and having a handle, said ring and member beingrotatable relatively to each other and adapted to receive a jar cap, andmeans connecting said members whereby they will be moved longitudinally,relatively to each other,

as they are revolved to clamp and expand the jar cap.

9. In a jar cap tool, a ring having means to support a jar cap therein,a disc removably mounted in said ring, and means formed in said ring toengage means on said disc for rotatably mounting the ring and discrelatively to each other to clamp and straighten the flange of the cap,and means on saiddisc to simultaneously expand the cap into its originalshape as the flange is clamped and straightened.

WALTER W. HARDING.

